Fastener



June 23, 1931. F. H. BROOME FASTENER Filed May 31, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z119, flraame,

)NVENTOR ATTORNEY June 23, 1931. F. H. BROOME FASTENER Filed May 31, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gym I 7 .14

IE flfaome ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1931 FRANK H. BROOME, 01 RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY FASTENER 1 A plication filed May 31, 1930. semu No. 458,397.

This invention relates to fastening devices for securing together aplurality of sheets or layers of-paper, an object being toprovide a paper fastener which may be made from a strip of gummed material, such as sheets of paper, and which will have no sharp projecting points to prick the hands of the user.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a paper fastener which, when used, will be glued or cemented to the under face of the bottom sheet of the assembled sheets of paper, so that the sheets will lie flat and 29 a number ofseparately attached sheets may be filed one upon the other'without causing an appreciable upward curling ofthe pile.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to

be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

"In the drawings:

mentary portion of a' number of sheets of paper secured together with a paper fastener constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the strip of which the fastener is formed.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 show- 49 ing a different form of fastener.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 4c. 7

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 showin still another form of the invention.

igures 7 and 8 are enlarged sectional views taken respectively on the lines 77 and 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a detailed perspective view of the reinforcing member shown in Figures 59 67 and 8.

'Fig'ure 1 is a plan view showing a frag- Figure 10 is a detailed perspective view of the fastener shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, without reinforcing member.

Figure 11 is avie'w similar to Figure 1 showing a slightly different form of the in: vention. 5 Y Y Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional View on the line 1212 of Figure 11.

F igure 13 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating still another form of the invention. r

Figure 14 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 14-44: of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing a slightly difierent means for reinforcing the body of the fixture.

Figures 16 and 17 are enlarged sectional views taken respectivelyon the lines 16-16 and 1717 of Figure 15.

Figure 18 is aview similar to Figure 1 showing afurther modified form of the invention.

' Figures 19f-and 20 are enlarged sectional Views taken respectively on the lines 1919 and 2020 of Figure 18. V

- Referring in detail to the drawings wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character 21 indicates a number of sheets or layers of mate-f rial which are secured together by a fastening ,device constructed inaccordance with the invention. In Figures 1, 2 and 3, this fastening device is shown as formed from astrip of flexible material indicated a't 22. The

strip may consist of fabric, paper or like ma; terial which is thin, flexible and comparatively strong. As constructed, the fastener comi prises a body 23 fromthe opposite'endsof I which extend legs 24, and the extremities of theselegs are provided upon one face with a suitable adhesive'25. For ease of manufacture, fabric coated the full'length with adhe-' sive could be used, The legs are inserted through openings 26 provided in paper sheets 21-and are bent inward sothat the adhesive 25 will'contact"with the under face of the lowermostsheet 21, the adhesive providing means forfsecurely attachingthe legs to this under sheet so that thepaper sheetswill be secured togetherin' a compact manner. As

the fastener is formed of thin material and lies flat against the upper and lowermost sheets, separate piles of these sheets may be stacked one upon the other without unduly increasing the height of the stacked pile at the corners of the sheets which carry the fasteners. In addition, there are no sharp projecting points or surfaces to dig or catch into other sheets, or to prick or injure the hands of the user.

In Figures 4: to 10 inclusive, the fastener is substantially T shaped, being bent to form a body 27 and legs 28. The legs are passed through a single opening 29 provided in the sheets 21 and are bent relatively outward in contact with the under face of the lowermost sheet and are secured to this lowermost sheet by an adhesive which is applied to one face of the legs. In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 5 the body 27 is provided with a metallic reinforcing member 31 which extends longitudinally of the body and has its ends bent inward beneath the body towards the legs 28 as shown at 32. This metal reinforcing member 31 is clamped tightly around the body so as to be properly retained thereon.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive, the reinforcing member is tubular or sleeve-like and is provided with an opening 83 for the passage of the legs 28 and is thereafter folded transversely of the body 27 with one edge 3 1 secured over the outer edge 35 by an adhesive 36.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 11 and 12 the fastening device is somewhat similar to the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. In Figures 11 and 12 however, the legs 24 which extend from the body 23 are bent relatively outward, the adhesive being applied to the face of the legs opposite that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The reinforcing member 87 for this form of the invention consists of a single thickness of paper or the like glued or otherwise secured to the body portion 23.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 13 and 1 1 the fastener 22 is identical with the fastener shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, with a reinforcing member 37 which is similar to the reinforcing member 37 shown in Figures 11 and 12.

In Figures 15, 16 and 17, the fastener 22 is 1 identical with the fastener shown in Figures 11 and 12 except that its body portion is provided with a transversly U-shaped metallic reinforcing member 38 which is clamped upon opposite sides of the body portion.

The fastener shown in Figures 18 to 20 inclusive has its legs 24a overlapping and is provided with a reinforcing member 38' which is similar to the reinforcing member 38. In this form of the invention the adhesive is soapplied to the legs that the innermost leg is attached to the adjacent sheet of paper while the outermost leg is attached to the under leg of the fastener. A closed loop is thus provided as clearly shown in Figure 19 of the drawings.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings that the invention provides a fastener in which both the body and legs will lie, and remain close to the outermost sheets of the paper. The reinforcing members are made of paper or very thin metal, or other suitable material so that the fasteners which include these reinforcing members will also lie flat.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A paper fastener comprising a substantially T-shaped member formed of a strip of flexible non-metallic material including a body and legs extending from the body and having extremities adapted for passage through openings provided in a plurality of sheets of paper, an adhesive upon one face of said extremities, and a relatively stiff reinforcing member secured to the body.

2. A paper fastener formed from a strip of flexible non-metallic material and comprising a body portion,legs extending from said body portion, and a relatively stiff reinforcing member secured to the body.

3. A paper fastener formed from a strip of flexible non-metallic material and comprising a body portion, legs extending from said body portion, an adhesive upon one face of the legs, and a relatively stiff reinforcing member secured'around the body portion.

4:. A paper fastener formed from a strip of flexible non-metallic material and comprising a body portion, legs extending from said body portion, an adhesive upon one face of the legs, and a relatively stiff sleeve like reinforcing member secured around the body portion.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRANK H. BROOME. 

